Two and Three Wheelers
Almost half of the registered vehicles in Jakarta are motorcycles, of which more than 60% have two-stroke engines. Motorcycles are very popular because they are not too expensive and they can weave through congested traffic. However, motorcycles are also the worst offenders for suspended particulate matter (PM) and hydrocarbon (HC) emissions.
The three-wheeled vehicle is known as a "bajaj" (pronounced "badge-eye"), which was originally imported from India and is popularly used as a motorized rickshaw for commuters. The bajaj is a noisy vehicle that usually emits thick fumes. In 2001, the city of Jakarta planned to replace the bajaj with the "kancil" -- a four-wheeled natural gas vehicle -- in a bid to reduce air pollution. Owners of registered bajajs would be given a chance to sell their vehicles to the DLLAJ, Jakarta's Land Transportation Agency, and use the proceeds to make a downpayment on a new kancil. This process, however, will take several years.
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